Planning Application 11/00750/FUL

Plymouth City Council notes that planning application 11/00750/FUL is scheduled to be considered by the Planning Committee on 22 December 2011, just three days before Christmas Day. We recognise that this is among the most controversial planning applications in Plymouth for many years, with hundreds of Plymothians wanting to witness the decision. Three days before Christmas Day is wholly unsuitable for Plymothians, especially those with young families, to have to attend a Planning Committee meeting. 

We note the confusion surrounding the decision to choose 22 December. Our Constitution states that the Chair of the relevant Committee shall decide, but the Chair of the Planning Committee states "The decision was not made by me. It was put to me by Paul Barnard, the Council's head of planning".

We further note that every four weeks the Chair of the Planning Committee states he is "keen to receive feedback" on the workings of the Planning Committee and that this feed back is "invaluable".

We therefore urge the Chair of the Planning Committee to consult with all Planning Committee members to find an alternative date which would show a willingness to allow as many Plymothians as possible to observe this important decision.

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that it was important that the committee was seen to be open and transparent;

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that although it may be difficult to bring the date forward, the meeting could be held in the New Year, if the Chair agreed;   

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reference to Councillor Lock’s response to the question by Mr Keats, referred to in minute 58 above;

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that the Chair would always take the advice of the officers; 

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that many representations had been received from the public with regard to the proposed meeting date;

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that the Council worked for the whole year and the date of the meeting was a normal working day;

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the planning application would be dealt with in an efficient and effective manner.